"I don't care that he's the modern Babe Ruth" -  MLB broadcaster preaches Shohei Ohtani's 'lifetime ban' if Dodgers  star placed illegal baseball bets

Shohei Ohtani made his first-ever regular-season appearance for the LA Dodgers, but his name is in the spotlight for a different reason. On Wednesday, reports surfaced that a bank account belonging to Ohtani had transferred some $4.5 million to a bookmaker in California.

Initially, it was claimed by the 29-year-old Dodgers star's lawyers that the funds were transferred to cover gambling losses incurred by Ohtani's interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara.

While placing bets on other "non-diamond sports" is not illegal as per MLB code, gambling is largely illegal in California. As such, some outlets have drawn attention to an individual by the name of Matthew Bowyer, a middleman.

After concurring with Mizuhara's claims of culpability, Ohtani's legal team came out with a pointed statement, claiming that the Japanese star had been stolen from. With so much still yet to be determined about the story, some pundits are assuming that the Los Angeles Dodgers star himself might be to blame.

Among those was Michael Kay of YES Network. Known for his color commentary on the New York Yankees, the March 21 edition of Kay's eponymously named talk show saw the host dish out some harsh possibilities.

Kay minced no words, claiming that if Shohei Ohtani was found guilty of gambling with his own funds, a lifetime ban should be levied against him.

"If he's the one that was gambling, and he was gambling on baseball, he's never playing again," Kay said. "I think this will shock everyone. I don't care how big he is. I don't care that he's the modern-day Babe Ruth. He screwed up in a big way and ruined his life because he couldn't control himself. He has been idolized and lionized every single moment since he's been an adult and probably has a god complex that nobody can touch him.

Many are already drawing comparisons to Cincinnati Reds legend Pete Rose. Despite holding the all-time MLB hits leader title, Rose has been banned from all MLB-related activity for life on account of him placing bets during his time as a manager and player.

Shohei Ohtani's brand takes a hit on the eve of 2024 season

As Ohtani and the Dodgers fly back to LA after opening their season against the San Diego Padres in Seoul, a dark cloud hangs over the team plane. After inking a monumental deal, Ohtani's new scandal leaves plenty of questions, and few answers.

In the immediate aftermath of the case going public, the Dodgers' communication team said:

"The Dodgers are aware of media reports and are gathering information."

With the massive media campaign surrounding Ohtani only set to grow, maintaining his focus on baseball may be the ultimate challenge in the coming weeks.